Since 2006, Matsson has released four full-length albums and two EPs. He records and produces these in his home, and usually records his voice and guitar together on one track. He is known both by his fans and his enemies for his charismatic stage presence.
Critics have compared The Tallest Man on Earth to Bob Dylan both in terms of songwriting ability and vocal style. When asked about his lyrical style, Matsson explains that he began listening to Bob Dylan at fifteen, and upon hearing Dylan's cover material, he "tried to figure out where those songs came from" and became slowly exposed to early American folk, such as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. But he is careful to qualify this, saying "I don't consider my work to be a part of any tradition. This is how I play. This is how I write songs."
With regard to his guitar technique, Matsson uses a variety of open tunings, and standard tuning to a lesser degree. He had classical guitar training in his youth, but says he "never really focused on it" and that by the end of high school he "got bored playing guitar because it was like math", until he then discovered open tunings while listening to Nick Drake in his early twenties. He was drawn to this style of playing because it allowed him to focus on singing while still performing intricate music.
He was previously married to Amanda Bergman, also known by the stage name Idiot Wind. Together, they wrote the music for the Swedish drama film Once a Year.
Fields of Our Home
The Tallest Man on Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though I wake up every night, oh
And I've been dreaming of a second rush
While the first one leaves your eye
What if you'd never been through lies
Young sorrow, Wailing loans
What if you'd never seen through that
Always rumors of a flame in town
Not by parents ever traced, no
Just a part of what we do out here
Subtle early, vicious late
What if I'd never been through finds
Of sorrow, wailing loans
What if I'd never seen through that
To the fields of our home
When all falling down is just the travelling need
Of a wave
And the burn of salt in the cuts come around
Heal again
There was always racing on that crossing street
Where you'd land on quiet heels
Will there ever be a sane time to
Let them know how walking feels
What if we never see through crying tomorrows,
Wailing loans
What if we never see through that
To the fields of our...
The more we believe in these frozen grounds
Suddenly hunger disappears
Will we fall as we run with our closing eyes
Is this a lifetime or some years
The Tallest Man on Earth's Fields of Our Home is a poignant song that lyrically touches on themes of belief, hope, and truth. The opening line, "So you honestly believe in me," addresses a relationship where one partner is struggling with self-doubt and insecurity. Despite this, their significant other still believes in them even when the singer wakes up every night and is dreaming of another rush. There is a clear sense of vulnerability in the lyrics here as the singer is acknowledging their flaws and lack of commitment while their partner still trusts in them.
The second verse delves into the idea of innocence and the idea that the past shapes the future. The lyrics "What if you'd never been through lies, Young sorrow, Wailing loans, What if you'd never seen through that, To the fields of our home" suggest that the singer's partner is understanding of the struggles they've been through, and their trauma is a fundamental part of who they are. The fields of their home represent a symbol of hope and security that their partner has been able to access, and the singer yearns to do the same.
The chorus further emphasizes this concept, with the lyrics "What if I'd never been through finds, Of sorrow, wailing loans, What if I'd never seen through that, To the fields of our home" outlining how both partners are struggling to overcome their past traumas to find the peaceful fields of their home. The closing lines "Is this a lifetime or some years" leaves the listener with a sense of uncertainty, suggesting that the road ahead will always be full of challenges, but it is worth the effort to achieve a sense of fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
So you honestly believe in me
Despite my frequent insecurities, you trust me
Though I wake up every night, oh
Despite my struggles sleeping, you remain supportive
And I've been dreaming of a second rush
I long for excitement and new experiences
While the first one leaves your eye
While you reminisce on past experiences
What if you'd never been through lies
Imagine a life without deceit and dishonesty
Young sorrow, Wailing loans
A time of sadness and financial struggle
What if you'd never seen through that
What if you never found a way to overcome those hardships
To the fields of our home
To return to the comfort and safety of our roots
Always rumors of a flame in town
Gossip is a common occurrence where we live
Not by parents ever traced, no
Our families did not approve of our behavior
Just a part of what we do out here
Engaging in such behavior is just a regular occurrence for us
Subtle early, vicious late
Starting out innocently, but becoming more dangerous as time goes on
What if I'd never been through finds
Imagine a life without discovering hidden secrets and truths
Of sorrow, wailing loans
Dealing with tough times and financial struggles
What if I'd never seen through that
What if I never found a way to come out the other side
To the fields of our home
To find peace and stability back home
When all falling down is just the travelling need
Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom to find our true path
Of a wave
Like the ups and downs of the ocean
And the burn of salt in the cuts come around
Even though we've been hurt before, we will heal
Heal again
We will recover and be whole once more
There was always racing on that crossing street
We used to play and have fun in that area
Where you'd land on quiet heels
You were always so graceful and quiet
Will there ever be a sane time to
Is there ever a good time to express yourself?
Let them know how walking feels
To share how difficult life can be at times
What if we never see through crying tomorrows,
Imagine if we couldn't see a future beyond our tears
Wailing loans
Overwhelming financial hardship
What if we never see through that
What if we never found a way to overcome those struggles
To the fields of our...
To find a sense of stability and comfort
The more we believe in these frozen grounds
The more we hold onto familiar places and things
Suddenly hunger disappears
When we find peace and stability, our desires become less urgent
Will we fall as we run with our closing eyes
Will we stumble blindly as we move forward?
Is this a lifetime or some years
Is this journey endless or relatively brief?
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@loriens7598
Deserves more recognition. I love his chord progressions. They are so strong and clear, it makes my heart burst ❤
@wesleyireland3900
The chord change and his grin at 3:25. Amazing
@DeadManRunning1
I like this better than the album version, due to the lack of additional instrumentation as well as the richer chords here and there. I wish he would release an acoustic version of this album.
@russiaz468
such a distinctive voice and the lyrics man
@VexcomStudios
Nice singing. I enjoyed it.
@daynight4087
3:50 favorite part. He's having a bunch of fun!
@jj1023665
stunning
@BearerOfFate
does anyone know the tuning?
@danielstensdahl2706
DABEAE
@BearerOfFate
thanks man!